[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/DitrTVTropesImage_5602.png]][[caption-width-right:350:And [[DownerEnding this]] is only [[ForegoneConclusion the opening shot]].]]

->'''[[MetaGuy Chen]]''': You know what's more disappointing? The fact I could have watched an intense battle, but instead, I had to watch *[[ParodyStu you]]*. Even if you had gone, you would have just won instantly! [[InvincibleHero Where's the excitement if I know you'll win]]?!->'''[[NominalHero Brolli]]''': You know, nobody likes stories where [[DownerEnding the hero fails]].->'''Chen''': [[{{Foreshadowing}} Yes they do]]: they're called [[{{Tragedy}} tragedies]]!

->''"[[ArcWords I will be different.]]"''

Brolli Diamondback's story follows the [[FandomSpecificPlot typical pattern]] of the average VideoGame/{{Touhou}} SelfInsertFic: average kid gets gapped into [[FantasyKitchenSink Gensokyo]] by [[RealityWarper Yukari Yakumo]], gains superpowers, makes friends with the entire cast, goes on a grand tour of Gensokyo with nothing to stop him, falls in love, and he plans to resolve the biggest incident in the history of Gensokyo. After which, he will live happily ever after.

[[FridgeLogic But wait]]:

What happened Brolli's life [[YouCantGoHomeagain back at home]]? Why is everyone in Gensokyo [[ExtremeDoormat automatically nice to him]] in the first place and why are they [[BlackHoleSue willing to do anything for him]]? If Brolli wasn't the first kid in Gensokyo, what happened to all of the others? '''Why did Yukari bring him to Gensokyo in the first place?'''

Part bad fanfiction {{Pastiche}}/DeconstructiveParody, part straight DeconstructionFic, animated in the create.swf "Walfas" VirtualPaperDoll engine with a [[MediumBlending speech-bubbles-and-animated-sequences]] style akin to WebVideo/KoishiKomeijisHeartthrobbingAdventure, this is {{Tropers/Spaztique}}'s ''Diamond In The Rough'': the first Walfas ''[[FanFilm movie]]''.

Originally written as a critique to an actual Walfas user, [=ColonelDiamondback=], whose videos are recreated and [[ArcWelding restructured]] in the opening half, who has since [[TookALevelInBadass gotten way better at writing]] since this movie. The original version was only made of Episode 17-20, but when fans demanded a full movie explaining the backstory, the result was a ''[[EpicMovie 4-and-a-half hour epic]]'' with two intermission sequences when streamed live. For more info behind how it was made, read the official companion guide, ''[[http://fav.me/d7rzsj5 The Definitive Guide to Diamond In The Rough]]''.

In addition to being known for playing with bad Touhou SelfInsertFic tropes and its [[DownerEnding dark ending]], its TroubledProduction makes it the Walfas equivilent to ''Film/ApocalypseNow'', with some complaining the the film would never get done (even to this day).

Watch the series [[http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFB8509F85B1DA408 here]].

Note: To eliminate confusion, the character will be referred to as Brolli, and the author of the character will be referred to as Colonel Diamondback.

----!!Tropes:

* ATragedyOfImpulsiveness: Brolli's defining weakness, and virtually everyone else along the way.* AnAesop: You are not your weapons, your powers, or your accomplishments. You are only what's beneath all of them.** Also, [[RealitySubtext do the research before setting out on your adventure in Gensokyo, or everyone else is going to kill you for playing God in a peaceful fantasy world]].* AccompliceByInaction: According to both [[spoiler:Yukari]] and [[spoiler:Tenshi]], the fact that [[spoiler:most of Gensokyo]] not only does nothing to stop the gappies, but also ''[[NiceJobBreakingItHero help them]]'' is what's causing the biggest problems in Gensokyo. [[spoiler:In Episode 15, Reimu and Marisa finally tire of it and decide to bring the pain to Yukari.]]* TheAce: Implied with Miko.* AchillesInHisTent: It turns out in Episode 8 that Reimu doesn't resolve incidents anymore, and the Gappies might be to blame...* AllThereInTheManual: Averted. Originally, the movie started with the assumption that you have seen [=ColonelDiamondback=]'s videos. Then, Spaztique revised the opening to build up Brolli's MartyStu-ness before utterly [[{{Deconstruction}} breaking him down to pieces]].** Brolli never does read the manual, leaving us to figure out Gensokyo for ourselves.* AmusingInjuries: Not counting the more serious ones, Brolli gets electrocuted by Marisa's reactor and shot by Reimu during a training montage.* AntiVillain: Tenshi wants to end the constant corruption of Gappies, even though her plan involves [[spoiler:stretching Gensokyo so thin that it will force everyone to side with or against Brolli, leading to Gensokyo-wide war]].** [[spoiler:Yukari wants to prolong Gensokyo's lifespan after a recent trend in stagnation in human/youkai duels. She wants to make Brolli into a BigBad to remind Gensokyo the consequences of its complacency, as well as give everyone somebody to fight so the magic never dies.]]* AnyoneCanDie* ArcWelding: The first half make sense of [=ColonelDiamondback=]'s original videos and tie them together. The last half spends the rest of its time [[{{Deconstruction}} utterly tearing them down]].* ArcWords: "Exisential threats must be eliminated ''by any means necessary''."** Also, "[[NotSoDifferent I will be different]]."* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Multiple over the story...** In Episode 10, Yukari asks Brolli, "Do you even remember why you came here? Or why you're staying?" Brolli's motivation was already pretty flimsy to begin with, but Brolli's speechless reaction hints he ''really'' doesn't know why he's even in Gensokyo.** Yukari gets yet another in Episode 16 when she asks Marisa [[spoiler:if she wants to stop these gappies, why has she aided every single one up to Brolli]]?** In Episode 20, Miko asks Brolli a series of questions he really should have asked himself earlier, like [[spoiler:why did he need ''four'' beasts when he only used one]]? And [[spoiler:why didn't he use them earlier when they were nigh invincible]]?** During full streams of the movie, the Intermission Sequence asks [[YouBastard increasingly difficult questions to the audience]].* ArtStyleDissonance: It's a tragic story about the downfall of a MartyStu and [[DeconstructionFic the consequences that come with it]]... yet it's told using a bright, simplistic style akin to a child's drawing.* TheAtoner: Multiple examples...** Brolli begins showing shades of this after [[spoiler:the destruction of the Scarlet Devil Mansion]]. [[spoiler:By the end, he's a full-blown Atoner.]]** [[spoiler:Shinki, who partially led to the destruction of Makai.]]** [[spoiler:Vic, after his tragic trip through Gensokyo.]]** If you read the Youtube comments, some of the watchers themselves.* AudienceParticipation: The UStream chat allows for people to interact with Spaztique while he's making the series or with eachother during the screenings, either riffing Brolli's antics or quoting video games.* AuthorAvatar: Brolli is this for [=ColonelDiamondback=].* [[spoiler:BabiesMakeEverythingBetter]]: Subverted: [[spoiler:Reisen announces she's pregnant just a few hours prior to the incident that kills Brolli.]]* [[spoiler:TheBadGuysWin]]: [[spoiler:Despite saving everyone by ending the incident in a draw, Brolli never got revenge of Tenshi or Yukari. Tenshi successfully made most of Gensokyo pay for its blind trust of outsiders, and although Yukari did not get her ongoing war, she has stirred up Gensokyo enough to prolong its lifespan.]]* BadassBoast: Aya gets one in Episode 19.--> '''Aya''': I know exactly what you're going for: we have to choose between saving Gensokyo or this harmless boy, except you've forgotten one small fact that voids this *entire* plan: '''GENSOKYO IS STRONG!!!''' One human boy makes no difference in [[WorldOfBadass a land of legends]]. If he's supposed to spell our doom, then just imagine what *we* could do!* BehindTheBlack: Justified Example with Komachi. Everyone was turned away, and she initiates things with a long-range sneak attack. ** [[spoiler: Also a subversion, in that Komachi points out she could CLEARLY hear despite being off-screen.]]* BerserkButton: Telling Marisa [[spoiler:you hate Reimu or you think she hates Reimu]].** Also from the same episode, telling Reimu [[spoiler: you plan on changing faiths because you don't like her]]* [[invoked]] [[BlackHoleSue Black Hole Stu]]: A gradual Deconstruction. As the story goes on, we hear about the balance of Gensokyo tipping in favor of anyone who blatantly disobeys Spell Card rules, and Brolli is slowly becoming the most influential person in Gensokyo, getting away with virtually anything he desires. By Episode 12, it turns out Tenshi's plan was to wait until Brolli became a Black Hole Stu to trigger an incident that would [[spoiler:stop gappies from ever getting that far again, preventing further tragedy]]. If it's not spelled out enough, Episodes 15 and 16 reveal [[spoiler:Yukari engineered this whole thing to keep the long-term ecology of Gensokyo in check since everyone has become too complacent with outsiders, and if kept unchecked, the people of Gensokyo could accidentally aid somebody ''truly'' evil]]. Finally, in Episode 19, [[spoiler:Brolli finally realizes this is what he's becoming, and if he survives the incident, he will become Gensokyo's BigBad]]. The climax [[spoiler:finally plays it for [[FromBadToWorse utter horror]], both to Brolli and the audience as the balance tips in Brolli's favor: half of Gensokyo is willing to kill and die for him, and if Brolli wins, he'll take over Gensokyo.]].* BigDamnHeroes: In Episode 18, most of the Touhou cast for [[spoiler:Youkai Mountain]]. In the same episode, [[spoiler:Brolli plays this for Reisen while Alice and Yukari both manage to do this for Brolli]].* TheBlank: In many of the [[http://fav.me/d54r9h4 promotional]] [[http://fav.me/d5roh7f materials]], characters have blank faces. According to WordOfGod, it's symbolic of how many SelfInsertFic writers put all details into their AuthorAvatar and none into [[InNameOnly the canon cast]].* BlastOut: In Episode 19, Brolli deduces [[spoiler:Yukari doesn't want Gensokyo to kill him, but ''eachother'' over him, and all of his allies will lose in the final battle]]. [[spoiler:If he does win, he will control Gensokyo.]]** Episode 20 ''is'' this: In the span of twenty minutes, the following happens:*** [[spoiler:In the Kappa Valley, Alice, Miko, and Reisen gun down the survivors of the Kappa Valley, Marisa shoots down Alice and Miko while trying to kill Brolli, Tenshi shoots down Reisen, Tenshi and Brolli kill eachother, and then Nitori gets Aya and Momiji arrested]].*** [[spoiler:At the Moriya Shrine, Reimu, Sakuya, Youmu, and Suika shoot down Kanako, Sanae shoots down Suika, Sakuya knives Sanae, the Myouren Temple gun down Reimu, Youmu, Sakuya, Kasen, and Keine, and Momiji and her wolves gun down a huge bulk of the Myouren Temple]].* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Yukari and youkai in general.* [[BreakTheCutie Break]] [[BreakTheBadass Absolutely]] [[BreakTheHaughty Everyone]]: By the [[DownerEnding end of the movie]], [[spoiler:Reimu is utterly traumatized, Marisa's impotent rage at Yukari is more powerful than ever, Aya and Momiji are let go from the Tengu army, Sanae is undergoing a massive crisis of faith (and Tenshi's parting blasts didn't help), Suwako feels guilty over killing Brolli, Sakuya realizes everyone betrayed her to kill the only gappy she cared for, Reisen has hit rock bottom and regrets ever having left the moon (and this is before learning that she's about to lose her child), Tewi regrets being such a jerk to Reisen, Eirin regrets letting Brolli near Reisen, Yukari is just plain burned out by everything that's happened, the Beasts are forever trapped in Brolli's dead body, and Brolli is light years beyond the DespairEventHorizon from knowing ''all'' of this was his fault.]]** Although we don't see them after the incident, it's a safe bet that Alice and Miko aren't exactly having a cheerful time either.* BreakThemByTalking: In a meta example, the whole film began as an attempt at doing this to [=ColonelDiamondback=]. The production alone has already caused him to rethink his writing habits. Then, it was directed at Touhou fanfic writers in-general: especially SelfInsertFic writers.* BreakingTheFourthWall: Marisa breaks it in her battle with Komachi.--> '''Marisa''': Let me guess: this is the part in the trailer for [[MediumAwareness this movie]] where you tell me, "[[InAWorld You're tampering with forces you don't understand]]!"** And she does it again in Episode 7 with the scene transitions.** [[spoiler:Yukari]] gets a sinister fourth wall break in Episode 20 after [[spoiler:blackmailing Brolli into fighting Tenshi over control of the balance]], telling him not to disappoint the audience while looking at the camera.** During the final fight between Brolli and Tenshi, Tenshi points out Brolli's life bar at the top of the screen.* BroadStrokes: [[spoiler:The events of ''A Majcher Mistake'' did not quite happen exactly as Yukari retold them, though arguably for the better considering what really happened...]]* [[spoiler:ButICantBePregnant]]: In Episode 16, [[spoiler:Reisen (or rather, Reisen through Tewi) reveals she is pregnant, despite being a different species from Brolli. Brolli worries if it's possible for a human and a youkai to have children and consults Eirin, and she says it is possible if the youkai and human are of equal power levels.]]* ButtMonkey: Brolli. PlayedForLaughs at first, where he is eaten, electrocuted, teased, bitten by Remilia, throws up, gets pied, and more. However, as things turn darker and darker, it's [[PlayedForDrama played for stark drama]].* CallBack: Multiple examples.** '''Brolli/[[spoiler:Chen]]''': "Brute force, is there anything you ''can't'' solve?"*** Called back again after [[spoiler:the Scarlet Devil Mansion is destroyed]], when Brolli [[spoiler:has [[CharacterDevelopment a change of heart and denounces brute force]]]].** In Episode 20, virtually ''everything'': [[spoiler:Momiji's sketch of Brolli, Marisa's copy of Brolli's soul which can power Master Sparks, Brolli's lightsaber, Momiji's comment about how Aya is only good for recon and danmaku photos, the Myouren temple army, and many, many more examples.]]*** Early on, Reimu says [[spoiler:if she could only get the chance to slap a Gappy Stu, she would take it]]. When Brolli freaks out that he's the only one who can resolve the incident, [[spoiler:she finally gets to slap Brolli]].*** Early on, Marisa suggests Brolli pack a projectile weapon, and the other characters comment swords will be nigh useless in a barrage fire duel. [[spoiler:During the incident, when Brolli's powers fail, he finally realizes why swords were a bad choice: he's fighting enemies who shoot from long ranges.]]*** Marisa tells Brolli that if worse came to worse, Reimu would kill a Gappy if it meant resolving an incident. [[spoiler:It later turns out Reimu is ''the only one'' who ''wouldn't'' kill a Gappy to resolve an incident, while it's Marisa's own suggestion to kill Brolli to save the Kappa Valley.]] Then, in Episode 20, [[spoiler:she tries just that: killing Brolli to save the Kappa of the Kappa Valley]].* CerebusRetcon: What begins as a seeming {{Pastiche}} of the typical Touhou Gappy Fic turns into a DeconstructiveParody. Then, by [[WhamEpisode Episode 13]], it takes a [[FromBadToWorse sharp turn south]]...** Early on, the fact Brolli has flimsy motivation over staying in Gensokyo is pretty amusing, but as paranoia and the threat of death looms closer and closer, it becomes apparent that a kid has ruined his life by jumping into a dangerous fantasy world with no clear objective. In the full screenings, the intermission points out that Gappy fics romanticize running away from home.** Many first-time viewers expected Tenshi to be the BigBad, and the people hoped at least the other youkai hunters could beat her. Then they realized [[spoiler:Tenshi was actually one of Brolli's best friends before the incident]], and then things got really awkward.** Remember the cat Brolli kicked off the couch at the beginning? [[spoiler:It died after Brolli spent his time in Gensokyo without feeding it.]]** Jack Diehard seems like a poke at what would happen in a Gappy Stu never got the chance to go to Gensokyo, only to reveal a troubled psychology underneath, and it only gets darker as the story goes.** Rumia's appearances are pretty cool and humorous in a dark way, until you realize [[spoiler:Yukari is sending her to hunt Brolli for straying away from her]].** Mokou seems pretty friendly at first, aiding Brolli in any way she can, but near the end, and especially during the resolution, it becomes clear [[spoiler:she just doesn't care either way: since she's immortal, tiny events like these don't matter]].** Tewi constantly pranking and belittling Reisen can be downright hilarious at first, until [[spoiler:Brolli dies and Reisen is driven into catatonic depression, and ''then'' Eirin forces Tewi to tell Reisen she won't be able to deliver her child with Brolli]].** In addition to the previous example with Tewi, there is a gag where Tewi pranks Reisen, it cuts to the outside of the House of Eternity, and we hear Reisen's scream. While that's pretty funny, it happens again in the epilogue, but when [[spoiler:Tewi delivers the news that Reisen is going to miscarry Brolli's child]].** Momiji's sketch of Brolli is pretty hilarious, and Nitori's refusal to throw it away showcases how helpless she is. Then, [[spoiler:Nitori uses it to help the survivors of the Kappa Valley Massacre hunt down Brolli and kill him, fed up with him herself]].** Early on, Yukari warns Brolli not to defeat Tenshi in fear it will destroy the balance, nor get close to Marisa because she could corrupt Brolli. It seems like she's trying to protect Brolli, and in reality, she ''was'': [[spoiler:Yukari kept him alive to destroy the balance. She knew Marisa would kill Brolli to save the balance, and she was waiting until she knew Brolli couldn't back out of defeating Tenshi for him to fight her.]]** The Myouren Temple's army of youkai seems pretty amusing when you consider it's ran by Buddhists. In its first fight scene, it acts like a RedShirtArmy against EX-Rumia. [[spoiler:In the climax, the incident resolvers are betrayed by the Myouren Temple, and rather than act as a RedShirtArmy, it's played realistically as the incident resolvers are massively outgunned.]]** Aya reassures Momiji that the truth always comes out in the end. Then [[spoiler:Aya's article, which was supposed to expose the truth, causes a giant war based on a lie that Colonel Diamondback is becoming too powerful to stop, and the resulting conspiracy to kill him gets her court-martialed with virtually every villain getting away scot-free.]]** Remilia asking Sakuya to partake in the incident seems like a candidate for a HeartwarmingMoment, right? In the Epilogue, [[spoiler:it turns out Remilia just wanted to get rid of her with the rest of the incident resolvers since she cared for Brolli, cooperating with the Myouren temple to ambush her.]]** Throughout the movie, Yukari is constantly stealing food from people, even to the point where Miko points this out. It turns out [[spoiler:that's the reason she gaps in children: she's basically stealing more food from the outside world by importing humans, letting them live and die in Gensokyo, and then eating the corpse]].** Brolli's beasts make several references that they were sealed for eternity, even though that clearly wasn't the case. In the end, [[spoiler: they're sealed in Brolli's dead body for eternity, and it's infinitely more horrible than they could have ever imagined]].* CessationOfExistence: The ultimate fate of the consciousness associated to a soul after it has been burned in Hell if the consciousness associated with it has not learned their lesson. This is the fate of [[spoiler:Arturo]] and the implied fate of many Gappy Stus before him.* ChekhovsArmoury: The entire climax is a giant string of [[CallBack Call Backs]].* ChekhovsGunman: Remember [[spoiler:Vic Chaos]] from Episodes 1 and 9? [[spoiler:He's the reason Tenshi causes the giant incident that eventually kills Brolli.]]* TheChosenOne: Averted. During the Aura Check scene, Brolli thinks he's TheChosenOne based on Marisa and Patchouli's concerned reactions, but it turns out he's not. Rather, his ability is [[GenreSavvy self-awareness]].* CrapsaccharineWorld: Double subverted. On one hand, [[DeathWorld Gensokyo]] really ''is'' a nice place if you're strong enough to survive in it. On the other hand, [[spoiler:'''everyone''' is going to kill you if you're considered ''too'' strong]]...** [[spoiler:Finally triple-subverted during the incident when you find out what happens when somebody ''does'' become too strong: they could effectively take over Gensokyo and bend it to their will.]]* CrisisCrossover: When looked at from the perspective of the separate [[VideoGame/{{Touhou}} Touhou Project]] games and the Walfas community, it is this.* CruelAndUnusualDeath: When Kaguya and Tewi are threatening Brolli, he kills the former by stabbing her with an empty syringe causing an air embolism [[note]]Which is a bubble in your blood, that big enough, can prevent blood from circulating in your body, leading to death.[[/note]], which causes her to gasp for air before convulsing on the floor and dying. [[KickTheDog Brolli says it's okay because she is immortal]].* CurbStompBattle: Multiple examples.** Unarmed Brolli vs. Rumia.** Chen and Ran vs. Ferin and Lepus.** Reimu vs. Overpowered Brolli.** In a deleted scene (and implied in the full movie), Sakuya vs. Tenshi.** From Episode 14, [[spoiler:Ferin vs. Yumeko]].** In Episode 20, [[spoiler:Reimu vs. the fairies surrounding the Moriya Shrine]], [[spoiler:the ''entire'' Myouren Temple vs. Reimu, Sakuya, Youmu, Suika, Kasen, and Keine]], and [[spoiler:Momiji and her tengu vs. the Myouren temple]].* CurseCutShort: Meiling gets cut off by Marisa's Master Spark.* DarkFic: Starts out pretty edgy, using mostly Touhou canon against the typical MartyStu OC, but once the [[GutPunch incident]] starts, it hits rock bottom and continues digging until it hits the other side of the planet.* DarkerAndEdgier: Deconstructed in the full film. In Episode 16, [[TheReveal it turns out]] [[spoiler:one of the reasons Yukari is gapping over children is to expose Gensokyo to ''real'' evil to discourage residents from going too far. Once the residents tire of these horrible events, they will fight harder to keep Gensokyo a peaceful fantasy wonderland and ensure nothing this bad will ever happen again.]]* DeaderThanDead: [[spoiler:Arturo]], the previous Gappy, whose soul was burned in hell and his [[CessationOfExistence consciousness utterly destroyed]].* DeathByIrony: [[spoiler:Brolli, a sword collector, is stabbed through the neck with Tenshi's sword.]]* DeathMontage: In Episode 17, we get to see [[spoiler:several of the previous gappies getting chucked into Hell, despite trying to be different]]. * DeathWorld: Gensokyo.* [[spoiler:DeathIsTheOnlyOption]]: [[spoiler:In order to save Gensokyo, Brolli must die to end "The Gappy Era." Otherwise, he'll have to spend the rest of his life fighting to take over Gensokyo. [[YouCantGoHomeAgain Going home is not an option]].]]* DeconReconSwitch: Inverted. The first half spends most of its time actually putting the Gappy Fic tropes together, only to smash them all to bits in the second half.* DeconstructionFic: So much so that it now has [[Deconstruction/DiamondInTheRough its own page]]. Amusingly, for most of it's deconstruction it simply turns to ''Touhou'' canon.* DeconstructiveParody: At first. The first half gets you to point and laugh at all of Brolli's antics and everyone's surrounding reactions as they illustrate where many Touhou [[SelfInsertFic Self-Insert Fics]] go wrong. [[spoiler:The latter half [[CerebusRetcon makes you completely regret the fact you did]].]]* DeconstructorFleet: Name a Touhou SelfInsertFic trope, and it will be ripped to shreds; particularly anything involving WishFulfillment and what it would be like to know the Touhou cast. So numerous in what it takes apart that it [[Deconstruction/DiamondInTheRough has its own page]]* DeathSeeker: Apparently Brolli in Episode 19. [[spoiler:Made very clear in Episode 20.]]* DespairEventHorizon: Brolli begins the story on the far side of it, presumably because he lost to Tenshi. During the climax, we find out why: [[spoiler:his presence became so powerful that it began destroying the very fantasy world he wanted to save: his allies were killing people to save him, while the rest of Gensokyo betrayed eachother to find ways to kill him. He tries to stop Tenshi, knowing Gensokyo would be better off merely killing him instead of fighting her, but he's unarmed and powerless compared to Tenshi. The film opens on the moment he realizes he has doomed Gensokyo.]]** [[spoiler:Vic crosses this upon not only murdering his friend Arturo, but accidentally killing several children while getting undeserved revenge of Yuuka and then being hailed as a hero for it.]]* DevilInPlainSight: Yukari, especially once the incident begins.* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: In Episode 20, after Yukari crosses the line and [[spoiler:blackmails Brolli into fighting Tenshi to send Gensokyo back to its violent roots]], [[spoiler:Brolli curses out Yukari]]. * DoomedProtagonist: Brolli. [[spoiler:He becomes aware of this in the second half, and becomes terrified by it.]]* {{Doublespeak}}: [[spoiler:Yukari's idea for Gensokyan utopia is a ForeverWar between humans and youkai.]]* DownerEnding: A ForegoneConclusion, but you don't quite know to what extent until the epilogue. See [[BreakTheCutie Break]] [[BreakTheBadass Absolutely]] [[BreakTheHaughty Everyone]] for more details...** [[spoiler:[[EarnYourHappyEnding Earn Your]] BittersweetEnding]]: [[spoiler:Despite the tragedy, the balance to Gensokyo has been restored seemingly permanently, leaving Jack Diehard and all future outsiders wanting to use Gensokyo to gain power harmless. More so, Gensokyo will eventually recover and become stronger than ever. Brolli may have died and lost everything, but by taking responsibility for his actions and letting himself die to save Gensokyo, he earns his redemption and gets one more chance.]]* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Vic is nearly driven to suicide until Jack's idiocy and obsession with going to Gensokyo to fix all of his problems [[HappilyFailedSuicide gives him a change of heart]].]]** [[spoiler:HappilyFailedSuicide]]** [[spoiler:Brolli in the climax, but as a HeroicSuicide.]]* DrunkWithPower: Brolli, after gaining his powers.** [[spoiler:''All'' of the Gappies.]]* DyingMomentOfAwesome: All over Episode 20...** Special mention goes to Brolli: [[spoiler:despite running out of weapons, having his powers disabled, having half the people he knew betray him, realizing the incident was caused so Gensokyo could kill him, and Yukari using Brolli to destroy the balance, he decides [[HeartwarmingMoments not to run when he has the chance, but that he'll die fighting Tenshi, ensuring everyone's efforts don't go to waste AND make Gensokyo feel safer without him]]. He goes out swinging and times his final shot so that Tenshi stabs him while he knocks her out.]]** [[spoiler:Reimu]], who [[spoiler:gets cornered by the Myouren Temple and then yells to Aya that Tenshi is in the Kappa Valley]].** [[GreyAndGrayMorality Depending on who you're rooting for]], [[spoiler:Miko, Reisen,]] and [[spoiler:Marisa]]. [[spoiler:Marisa, fulfilling her promise to Reimu to kill Brolli if things get out of hand and her duty to protect the balance of Gensokyo, decides to go down killing Alice and Miko, only to get shot down by Reisen at the last second, who is in turn shot by Tenshi. Meanwhile, Miko blocks Marisa's Master Spark to protect Brolli]].* DynamicEntry: [[spoiler:Reimu]] gets one in Episode 15 while trying to prevent Tenshi's incident.* EarnYourHappyEnding: [[spoiler:Vic is probably the only gappy that pulls a somewhat happy ending out of the story. Despite killing Arturo, hundreds of children, and nearly himself, he vows in Episode 16 to fix his life in the real world and leave the tragedy behind him.]]* EndOfAnAge: According to [[spoiler:Shinki]], Brolli is [[spoiler:the final Gappy the people of Gensokyo will treat like the typical MartyStu, either because he will end up taking over Gensokyo or [[HeroicSacrifice dying to save it]].]] Bad enough, but what Brolli will soon be responsible for is what [[spoiler:shifted Gensokyo from the Makai-invasion-driven PC-98 Era to the outsiders-causing-trouble-driven Windows Era]]. * EpicMovie: By both Walfas and actual film standards, Diamond In The Rough clocks in at more than three hours. The final battle scene itself is a little over fifteen minutes and features characters from nearly every game.* ElegantGothicLolita: Briefly seen in Episode 15 as Brolli [[spoiler:walks through a Japanese city]].* {{Escapism}}: The whole reason behind why the Gappies want to go to Gensokyo.* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Every character introduction essentially does this.** We get the idea Brolli is TheSlacker early on from his first encounter in class, but his most memorable moment early on is when he [[spoiler:literally kicks his cat off the couch.]]** Yukari's first appearance has her [[HumanoidAbomination popping out from a gap and cutting off Brolli from an escape]].** Kaguya and Moukou establish the dynamic between them in their first appearance where they are seen fighting each other, even keeping score how many times they've killed each other.** Marisa Kirisame's [[RuleOfCool outlandish coolness]] is established when she's testing out her Mini Hakkero on [[spoiler:Reimu dolls]] while rocking out to her theme and grilling meat.** Alice just getting out of bed and not tolerating any of Marisa's quips, just before [[spoiler:assembling her dolls, who then dress her and bring her her Grimiore]].** Komachi lazing about while guarding Brolli's seal, and then [[spoiler:jumping up to scare the Hell out of Nazrin when she approaches]] before going back to sleep.** [[invoked]] Reimu scaring off the youkai with her voice alone and kindly welcoming Brolli to the Hakurei Shrine... and then [[spoiler:cussing like a sailor when Brolli mentions he's a [[MartyStu Gappy]].]]** Byakuren gets an interesting introduction when she gets her followers to protect the human village from EX-Rumia, only for Miko to joke that a Buddhist monk has ''an army''.** Tewi and her fellow rabbits popping up behind the wall to the bar Brolli takes Reisen, then proceeding to tease her.* EvilFormerFriend: [[spoiler:Tenshi]], according to Episode 10. She's not happy about it either, but she doesn't really have a choice in it.* ExplainExplainOhCrap: From Episode 19...--> '''Aya''': Brolli, you're fine! Why do you still have the shocked look on your face?--> '''Brolli''': ... You said one of your scouts didn't come back yet...--> '''Aya''': Well of course: [[spoiler:she's just in the Kappa Valley, and that place has the best defenses in all of-...]]--> ''*Aya goes pale with shock and drops her notepad and pen.*''--> '''Brolli''': [[spoiler:[[WhamLine THE KAPPA VALLEY IS DEFENSELESS!!!]]]]* ExtremeDoormat: Nitori, in an attempt to [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstruct]] her fanon interpretation. Mokou is similar, only that she is more towards StrawNihilist.** In Episode 16, Yukari believes [[spoiler:Gensokyo as a whole has become this towards outsiders]], which is why [[spoiler:she's gapping in kids to test Gensokyo's limits of trust]]. Worse, [[spoiler:[[VillainHasAPoint she's right]].]]* FaceHeelTurn: Several, all in Episode 20...** Naturally, Tenshi vs. Brolli.** [[spoiler:The Moriya Shrine]] betrays Brolli to [[spoiler:save themselves.]]** [[spoiler:The Myouren Temple]] betrays [[spoiler:the youkai hunters]] since they are allies of Brolli, who [[spoiler:poses an existential threat to the youkai and Gensokyo's existence]].** [[spoiler:Nitori]] and [[spoiler:the Kappa]] betray Brolli and anyone aiding him for [[spoiler:putting the Kappa Valley at risk]]. By the same token, [[spoiler:the incident resolvers turn on the Kappa]].** [[spoiler:Marisa]] betrays the youkai hunters for [[spoiler:firing on the survivors of the Kappa Valley]]. ** [[spoiler:The Tengu Army]] turn against [[spoiler:Aya and Momiji]] for seemingly [[spoiler:disobeying orders]].** [[spoiler:It later turns out Remilia didn't send Sakuya to help with the incident, but to get her out of the way with the rest of the incident resolvers so she could aid in Brolli's death.]] * FakeUltimateHero: Brolli. Deconstructed when [[spoiler:Tenshi engineers an unwinnable incident that tests the limits of his heroism.]]** [[spoiler:Vic was this when he torched Yuuka's garden, killing the children she hid to protect from Arturo.]]* TheFairFolk: This trope is itself present in canon, but in a LighterAndSofter context, and it shows in this work, especially Yukari, whose behavior resemble more of the fae, such as abducting people (the gappies) for reasons alien to human understanding other than a pastime, allowing them to live their WishFulfillment fantasies, while watching them break down and die.* FalseReassurance: In Episode 15, Yukari tells Brolli [[spoiler:he can still save Gensokyo ''and'' himself, only as long as he collects his beasts and does nothing to save his friends]]. Then, in Episode 20, [[spoiler:Yukari fills in the rest of the details: Brolli will get to live on as the BigBad, he's saving Gensokyo by generating enough human-youkai conflict to keep the magic alive, and he was told to collect his Beasts so he would have to rely on ''other'' people saving him, resulting in his allies killing ''anyone'' in Brolli's way]]. * FandomSpecificPlot: A {{Deconstruction}} of the classic "kid gets gapped by Yukari into Gensokyo, travels all over the land while meeting ''everyone'', finds love, defeats the bad guy during the worst incident ever, and becomes the hero" plot, showing how shallow these plots really are.* FantasticRacism: Plenty of it, especially towards gappies. [[spoiler:The goal of the villains is to cause the residents of Gensokyo to distrust and hate outsiders.]]* FinalBattle: Episode 20, between [[spoiler:all of Brolli's allies and enemies]]. Plus, it appears that the battle between Brolli and Tenshi is to determine [[spoiler:who will get the upper hand from the fallout effects of the Diamondback Incident]].* FindingJudas: Multiple examples in Episode 20, including [[spoiler:Nitori, Sanae and the Moriya Shrine, Nue and the Myouren Temple, and even Remilia Scarlet.]]* FishOutOfWater: Brolli in Gensokyo, [[spoiler:Makai]], and finally [[spoiler:urban Japan]].* FollowTheLeader: The following trends seem to have started thanks to ''Diamond In The Rough'':** It has codified the "Outsider Tragedy Fic," resulting in such fics as ''Lesson of Life'', ''Miss Y'', ''FanFic/TheCrossroad'', and even the Outsider Fic {{Reconstruction}} ''Mind The Gap''.** Yukari and other residents reccomending reading the UniverseCompendium.** Yukari's "local Gensokyo beef," which is arguably a {{Reconstruction}} of Touhou canon.** Remilia drinking blood from outsiders as payment for the services of the Scarlet Devil Mansion.** A subversion of sorts: visual works inspired by ''Diamond In The Rough'' use the dark, cluttered design for Marisa's house, which is actually based on [[ShownTheirWork ZUN's own drawings of Marisa's house]]. ** Nitori [[spoiler:showing her cocky and InsufferableGenius side in wild contrast to her fanon personality]].* ForegoneConclusion: [[TheHeroDies Brolli is going to die at the end of the story]], defenseless and by Tenshi's hand.* {{Foreshadowing}}: Virtually the entire first half sets up events in the second half. For specific examples...** At the beginning of episode 4, Flandre and Patcholi are studying different literary concepts, such as one that describes the moment a hero's life starts to falls apart. Guess what starts to happen to Brolli near the climax. Heck, Patcholi even is about to explain Foreshadowing before Marisa crashes through the library.** In Episode 6, Yukari shows Brolli a film that appears to be the rest of the story in miniature: the gappy gains powers, falls in love, becomes corrupt, angers the residents, and then dies. He has already gained his powers, and he does fall in love, but [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold he's not entirely bad]]. Unfortunately, [[spoiler:neither was Vic, whose story more parallels Brolli's: he came over wanting to be different, does something horrible by accident, tries his best to right the wrong, and if he would have stayed any longer, he would've been killed by Tenshi as part of a gambit to get back at everyone else]]. [[FromBadToWorse Even worse]], [[spoiler:Brolli refuses to leave, thinking he will set things right, [[TheHeroDies but]]...]]** In Episode 8, everything [[spoiler:Hydrus]] says is later fulfilled [[spoiler:much to Brolli's detriment]].* ForeverWar: In Episode 20, [[spoiler:Yukari confirms Brolli's hunch in the previous episode: Yukari wants to keep Brolli alive so he can destroy the balance, causing a seemingly endless battle to liberate Gensokyo from Brolli, his beasts, and his allies.]] At the same time, [[spoiler:Tenshi and the rest of Brolli's enemies will be seen as saviors if they defeat Brolli and his allies, causing a similar-but-different war if she wins.]]* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Remilia is having a pie when she first meets Brolli. After giving Brolli a tour of the mansion in hopes of persuading him to become her new butler, Sakuya is still carrying the pie around... on her head... and there's [[FreezeFrameBonus a bite taken out of it]]...* FreezeFrameBonus: Multiple examples...** The guides Yukari gives Brolli are [[UniverseCompendium the official universe guides]], ''Perfect Memento in [the] Strict Sense, Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red'', and ''Symposium of Post-Mysticism'', all with [[ShownTheirWork accurate page counts]] (though, ''Perfect Memento'' has a bonus section to make [[RuleOfFunny Brolli's time reading harder]]).** After cutting back to the outside world, the desk next to Jack's reads "Arturo Wuz Here."** When Brolli and Marisa are staking out Reisen, Koishi can be seen talking to some kids in the background, and then disappears upon realizing who he is. You can also see Aya interviewing Kyouko and the Myouren temple when Reisen first arrives.* FromBadToWorse: Episode 20.* GenreSavvy: Chen, for the most part. * GenreShift: Episode 18 turns into a full-blown [[WarFic war story]]. * GiantFood: The Netherworld Garden, and it has to be with [[BigEater Yuyuko]] living there.* [[invoked]] [[GodModeSue God Mode Stu]]: Deconstructed with [[spoiler:Arturo]], the previous Gappy Stu. His powers allow him to win any battle, but he doesn't exactly use his powers [[DrunkWithPower for good]], or at least good in [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality the eyes of others]]...** Deconstructed in the full film. The whole reason the incident resolvers want to protect the balance is because if it tips in favor of an outsider, they could reign over Gensokyo and bend it to their will. However, [[spoiler:the residents of Gensokyo have been aiding outsiders a little too much lately, and each outsider is tipping the balance closer and closer to the outsiders, regardless of how amoral they are. Yukari gaps in these morally skewed children in hopes of eventually showing Gensokyo the results of blindly aiding outsiders before judging their character. When the incident hits it peak, the balance is almost in Brolli's favor: he has half of Gensokyo murdering others for him and dying for him, but Brolli, being the only gappy with self-awareness, is horrified by this and won't take any of it. He chooses to relinquish his powers and die to save Gensokyo.]]* GratuitousJapanese: Averted. None of the locations are called by their Japanese names, but English translations. Danmaku is referred to as "barrage fire." JapaneseHonorifics are replaced by "Miss" and "Lady." Marisa's "ze" is entirely absent, but [[CulturalTranslation she will resort to slang when she gets excited]].** Going a step further, there are also some Japanese language jokes that may get lost on non-speakers, such as some of the puns ("Nearby Noodles") and conventions (most of the characters rarely say "no," but instead say, "not really").** Played straight Episode 15 when [[spoiler:Brolli leaves Gensokyo through the Hakurei Border, only to find himself stranded in Japan, unable to understand Reimu since she's been speaking Japanese this whole time.]]* GreyAndGrayMorality: There are no clear heroes or villains, and this becomes much more apparent as it goes on. In Episode 13, Remilia [[LampshadeHanging points this out.]]--> '''Brolli''': I-I don't want want to serve anyone! Can't I just be friends with everyone in Gensokyo and have everyone protect me?--> '''Remilia''': Mr. Diamondback, there are two hard truths you must recognize if you are to survive this coming incident. First, you must recognize the alliances of Gensokyo are very, very finicky. People regularly betray eachother over very petty reasons. Second, ''[[YouCantGoHomeAgain you've been here for three months]]''.** [[spoiler:ALighterShadeOfGrey]]: [[spoiler:In the second half, Brolli ''tries'' to become a hero. We also realize that Reimu, Yuyuko, Sakuya, Marisa, Yuuka, Meiling, Aya, Momiji, and many more will rise to save Gensokyo at all costs. Subverted/Partially deconstructed with everyone else, who all want to do good, but end up committing heinous acts to save Gensokyo.]] * GutPunch: Although Diamond In The Rough starts as a dark twist on the "kid gets gapped into Gensokyo and becomes a hero" story, the incident turns ''Diamond In The Rough'' from a [[DeconstructiveParody darkly humorous poke]] at MartyStu Touhou fanfics into something [[FromBadToWorse downright]] [[TakeThatAudience malicious]].* HangingJudge: According to Komachi in Episode 17, Shiki: although she'll lecture the living to help them steer clear of Hell, anyone in her court has either committed sins of such high caliber or reincarnated so many times that she will just dump them into Hell. * HeelRealization: [[spoiler:Sanae has one after learning from Tenshi that Brolli wasn't a threat after all and was just an innocent boy.]]* HesBack: A steady string of them during the incident, including...** Episode 14: [[spoiler:Sakuya]]** Episode 15: [[spoiler:'''Reimu''']]** Episode 16: [[spoiler:Vic in the real world]], and deconstructed with [[spoiler:Brolli]] in that [[spoiler:Brolli's return ignites Tenshi's incidents]].* TheHeroDies: We know from the opening Brolli will die, and the rest of the movie goes into great detail of whether or not he deserved it.* HeroesPreferSwords: Brolli tells Marisa he wants swords... in a universe that uses danmaku. [[{{Deconstruction}} Naturally]], [[NeverBringAKnifeToAGunFight you can tell where this is going]].* HeroicBystander: In Episode 19, [[spoiler:the residents of the Netherworld, Hell, and Human Village all gather up to fight Tenshi's assault.]]* HeroicWannabe: Brolli, but mainly to gain power.* [[spoiler:HeroicSuicide]]: [[spoiler:By the end of Brolli's battle with Tenshi, it's clear winning is not a viable option for Gensokyo's peace: he engineers a double-knockout to save Gensokyo from Tenshi ''and'' himself]].* HesitantSacrifice: When told he would have to sacrifice himself to [[spoiler:end the Gappy era]], Brolli responds he'd much rather let some other poor sap do it for him.* HijackedByJesus: Despite taking place in the VideoGame/{{Touhou}} universe, its theme is partly inspired by [[Literature/TheBible Ecclesiastes]].* HonorBeforeReason: In a formal duel against [[spoiler:the beasts]], [[spoiler:Flandre]] ''refuses'' to break Spell Card Rules, despite [[spoiler:her destructive fighting style]]. As a result, [[spoiler:the beasts hypnotize her and then destroy the Scarlet Devil Mansion]]. In Episode 14, [[spoiler:Patchouli [[LampshadeHanging hangs a lampshade on this]] and points out that vampires in Gensokyo are extremely polite]].* HopeSpot: Chen wonders if Brolli may actually be different from other gappy stus, [[spoiler: but then dismiss her thoughts]].** Episode 15 as a whole: [[spoiler:Reimu [[HesBack comes out of retirement to resolve the incident]], Marisa decides to finally stop Yukari from gapping in more kids, Brolli escapes Gensokyo, and Tenshi's incident looks like it's not going to happen]]. Then, [[spoiler:Brolli finds out [[YouCantGoHomeAgain he can't go home]]]]. Bad enough, but [[spoiler:if Brolli returns to Gensokyo, both he, Reimu, and Marisa know it could mean the end of Gensokyo]]. [[FromBadToWorse Then]] [[spoiler:Yukari convinces him he has better odds of fixing things in Gensokyo than repairing his life on the outside word]], and the episode ends with [[spoiler:Brolli going back to Gensokyo]]. ** Episode 16 has one when Sanae offers to shelter Brolli during the incident. [[spoiler:Then Tenshi pops out from under her table, and a red mist starts pouring out of the shrine.]]** Episode 19's "GENSOKYO IS STRONG!" Sequence. ** Episode 20 has two, [[spoiler: after Momiji attacks Tenshi, Aya warns Brolli to run before Tenshi's final spell card activates, however Brolli chooses to continue fighting Tenshi. The second HopeSpot is when it looks like Brolli can defeat Tenshi, unfortunately Tenshi's final blow stabs Brolli through the neck.]]* HopelessWar: The climatic incident that's supposed to kill Brolli. Of course, [[TheHeroDies it works]].** In Episode 20, [[spoiler:Yukari tells Brolli it's not impossible to still win; the only stipulation is that if he ''does'' win, he will then cause a ForeverWar for everyone else to stop him.]]* HowWeGotHere: The movie begins by revealing Brolli will get annihilated by Tenshi and spends the rest of the story counting down to how he got there.* HumanoidAbomination: The youkai, for the most part. Especially Yukari and Rumia (so far).* IdealizedSex: Averted in Episode 11 when [[spoiler:Brolli has uncomfortable and awkward sex with Reisen]].* InfantImmortality: [[spoiler:Averted. Arturo actually killed several of the human children in Gensokyo prior to Brolli's arrival.]]* IntentionalEngrishForFunny: In Episode 15, [[spoiler:one of the untranslated signs for an electronics shop in the Japanese town Brolli walks to is in Engrish.]]* ItsGoingDown: [[spoiler:The entire Scarlet Devil Mansion gets destroyed by the Diamondback Beasts.]]* JerkassHasAPoint: Reimu, who constantly discourages Brolli's quest for power, citing it may eventually tip the balance of Gensokyo. [[spoiler:So, Brolli ends up cutting off contact with her for Sanae, who is much nicer.]]* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: All gappies, even if they show a spec of selflessness, they are just selfish in the end. [[spoiler:Brolli was different, because he admitted that he had a problem, though in earlier versions of some scenes, he doesn't recognize until he's dead.]] Also, a lot of Touhou characters shows this trait, like Yukari and Remilia.* JumpedAtTheCall: It doesn't take long for Brolli to take up Yukari's offer: he jumps so quickly that he leaves his cat behind.* JustifiedTitle: A diamond in the rough is either an uncut diamond or something good with bad surface traits. It can refer to the original MartyStu who evolved into a TragicHero, the character himself who was an ordinary kid recruited by Yukari to be Gensokyo's powerful new incident resolvers, and it's about a guy with the name [[PunnyName Diamondback]] going through a [[TraumaCongaLine lot of rough stuff]].* KarmaHoudini: Marisa even lampshades that she gets away stealing Patchouli's books without any punishment ([[spoiler: too bad that Broli decides to listen to her, instead of Reimu]]). Also, Yukari definitely is one.** In ''A Majcher Mistake'', Yuuka is definitely a KarmaHoudini for causing Arturo's rampage and getting away with it... [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope At least]] [[BroadStrokes according to]] [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory the film]]...]]** [[spoiler: Vic Chaos]] realizing that he and Mokou are basically going to be this after [[spoiler: torching Yuuka's flower field and killing the children hiding there]] is what causes him to leave Gensokyo for good.** Even though their plans didn't realize fully, [[spoiler:Yukari and Tenshi went off the final incident lightly.]]* KickTheDog: Brolli will have a LOT of these, with a memorable moment in the opening where he [[spoiler:kicks his cat off the couch]].** Brolli gains a little bit of humility before running off after gaining his powers without thanking Alice and Marisa.*** In episode 11 though, when he visits them, he thanks them. Unfortunately he then soon kicks the dog ''again'' when he badmouths Reimu, and implied that he thinks Marisa hated her. And later when he tells Reimu in her face that he's changing faiths to the Moriya shrine because he doesn't like her.** Attacking Reimu, even though [[spoiler:she wasn't going to attack, but just trying to intimidate Brolli]].** When it appears Ex Rumia is attacking the human village, Brolli [[spoiler:ducks out so he can train, even though his powers can easily stop her]]. Even Marisa delivers a FlatWhat upon hearing this.** The Diamondback Beasts get a malicious one in episode 13 when [[spoiler: they trick Brolli into relinquishing them of his command, giving them free will, and then proceed to void Spell Card Rules by paralyzing Flandre and causing the mansion to collapse on top of her]].** Yukari gets one in Episode 20, [[spoiler:blackmailing Brolli to defeat Tenshi so he can take control of the balance, or otherwise burn in Hell like the previous gappies]].* [[spoiler:KillEmAll]]: In the final battle, out of 15+ combatants, [[spoiler:only Aya, Momiji, and Nitori make it without getting hit.]]* KillTheOnesYouLove: [[spoiler:Vic had to kill Arturo, one of his few friends, to save Gensokyo.]] Then, [[spoiler:Tenshi's plan to end the cycle of Gappy violence includes murdering her best friend, Brolli.]]** [[spoiler:Yukari bets that if pushed enough, Marisa would kill Brolli to save Gensokyo. Marisa objects, saying Brolli is different, but then the incident happens...]]* KilledMidSentence: [[spoiler:Arturo]], the previous Gappy Stu before he is dropped into Hell.* KilledOffForReal: Multiple examples...** Obviously, [[TheHeroDies Brolli]].** Episode 14: [[spoiler:Ferin]]** Episode 15: [[spoiler:Cat Beast]]* KnightTemplar: [[spoiler:The villains.]]* LampshadeHanging: Characters are often quick to point out common Touhou fanfic cliches and misconceptions on a regular basis.* TheLastDance: Brolli's reasoning for going to the Kappa Valley in Episode 19, and his final battle with Tenshi in Episode 20.* LeaveYourQuestTest: Yukari regularly offers Brolli a chance to go home. Brolli refuses it each time.* LetsGetDangerous: Komachi's EstablishingCharacterMoment proves that when she's not a slacker, Komachi is a force to be reckoned with. * LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: Features virtually every playable character, plus bosses from every game. The cast includes...** '''PC-98 Characters''': Reimu, Marisa, Yuuka, [[spoiler:Yumeko, Shinki, and Genji]]** '''Embodiment Of Scarlet Devil''': Rumia, Daiyousei, Cirno, Sakuya, Patchouli, Remilia, Flandre** '''Perfect Cherry Blossom''': Chen, Ran, Yukari, Youmu, Yuyuko, Alice** '''Imperishable Night''': Wriggle, Mystia, Keine, Reisen, Tewi, Mokou, Kaguya, Eirin** '''Phantasmagoria Of Flower View''': Aya, Komachi, Shiki** '''Mountain Of Faith''': Nitori, Momiji, Sanae, Kanako, Suwako** '''Subterranean Animism''': Yuugi, Utsuho, Rin, Koishi** '''Undefined Fantastic Object''': Byakuren, Nue, Nazrin** '''Ten Desires''': Kyouko, Miko, Mamizou** '''Others''': Suika, Kasen, Tenshi, [[spoiler:Maribel and Renko]], Lord Tenma (who is mentioned [[AllThereInTheManual in the supplementary material]]), Hiraku Okami and Mini from the FanFic/{{Miniverse}}, three celestials, entire [[RedShirtArmy ARMIES]] of youkai and fairies, and the MartyStu that started it all, Brolli Diamondback. There is also Brolli's classmates, including a more prototypical MartyStu, Jack Diehard. '''According to the credits, there are 61 characters.'''* LuredIntoATrap: [[spoiler:In Episode 20, both teams are lured into traps set up by the Moriya Shrine, Kappa Valley, Myouren Temple, and Scarlet Devil Mansion]].* TheMainCharactersDoEverything: Deconstructed. So many gappies have carried the weight of Gensokyo on their shoulders that Reimu just gave up on incident resolving and decided to just hang back at her shrine, ready to give the same spell card speech and tea to the next gappy involved, ''knowing'' she'd be reduced to a background character; [[spoiler:eventually, Reimu and Marisa grow tired of this and decide to start doing something about the situation in Gensokyo, and finally, when Brolli screams that he is the only one that can resolve the incident, [[TrailersAlwaysSpoil Reimu slaps some sense into Brolli]] and yells "THE WORLD DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND YOU AND YOUR NEEDS, BROLLI!!!"]]** Episode 18 subverts this when [[spoiler:the mist renders Brolli completely useless, while the rest of the heroines find ways around their lack of powers to fight]]. * [[invoked]] MartyStu: A {{Deconstruction}}, showing how desperate and manipulative someone would be to want such power and what they'd do with such power. Averted with the actual Brolli, whose conflicts are mostly psychological in nature.** Further deconstructed with Jack Diehard, who doesn't possess Brolli's self-awareness: he is a sociopath a brat who asks Yukari to let Brolli die so he can have a chance at Gensokyo.** Also deconstructed, as we'll come to learn, with Vic: [[spoiler:Vic vowed to relinquish his powers and change for the better, but now he cannot readjust to normal life.]]** Deconstructed ''[[DeconstructorFleet again]]'' with [[spoiler:Arturo]], the previous Gappy before Brolli, who only goes to Gensokyo to [[AManIsNotAVirgin lose his virginity]], even if it means [[spoiler:killing children with his new powers]], and since nobody can oppose him, he is free to get away with what he wishes. The only solution for the people of Gensokyo is to [[spoiler:void normal dueling rules and just kill him altogether. [[BroadStrokes Or at least that's what it seems]].]]* MassOhCrap: In Episode 15, the celestials' fairies have this when they realize [[spoiler:Reimu [[HesBack has returned to resolving incidents]]]].* MatchCut: All over the place, many of which contain Brolli.** Most famously, the opening, slowly dissolving from Brolli on the brink of death in Gensokyo to him sleeping at his desk in the outside world.* MayflyDecemberRomance: Between Brolli, a human teenager, and Reisen, a moon rabbit who is ''at least'' fifty years old, telling Brolli she fled from the moon during the Apollo Invasion, to which Brolli reflexively shouts she's old enough to be his mom.* MessianicArchetype: According to [[spoiler:Shinki]], Brolli might become this, but [[HesitantSacrifice Brolli wants none of it.]]* MetaGuy: Chen. * MexicanStandoff: In Episode 19 and the original cut, [[spoiler:everyone debates whether or not to endanger themselves by running into the Kappa Valley or just killing Brolli to end the incident]]. Eventually, [[spoiler:''everyone'' by Reimu and Yukari are pointing their weapons at Brolli, either out of anger or because they don't have a choice]]. However, [[spoiler:Reimu stops them at the last second upon remembering that Yukari set this whole thing up.]]* MindScrew: All of the accounts about what happened with Vic, Arturo, Keine, and Yuuka never match up. According to Yukari, [[spoiler:Arturo murdered a village full of a kids and then got into a relationship with Yuuka]]. According to [[spoiler:Tenshi]], [[spoiler:Arturo only killed the kids hoping he'd get sex out of the deal, but Yuuka refuses to let Arturo get away with it. Vic comes in to kill Arturo, but he accidentally kills several children Yuuka was hiding]]. According to Vic, [[spoiler:Arturo only killed a few kids and Vic killed ''more'']]. According to [[spoiler:Komachi]], [[spoiler:Arturo thought what she did with Yuuka was consensual]], and then [[LampshadeHanging remarks to Brolli]]/[[TakeThatAudience the audience]] that some people could just be wrong or lying. Finally, Keine [[spoiler:appears to be completely unaware of Arturo at all]].* MissedTheCall: Jack Diehard was Yukari's second pick for going to Gensokyo, and he is NOT happy to hear Brolli is still in Gensokyo.* MissingTrailerScene: The scene where [[CreatorCameo Spaztique himself]] calls out Brolli is cut, replaced with Brolli's backstory. The scene can be seen [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmdyLkrPGOo here]].* [[spoiler:TheMole]]: [[spoiler:Nue]]* MoodWhiplash: Common.** Brolli goes from wacky hijinks around his house to being confronted with [[HumanoidAbomination Yukari]].** After Brolli screams for help as [[spoiler:Rumia is eating him alive]], it immediately cuts to Yukari [[spoiler:persuading her next child to join her]] as jaunty music plays in the background.** A result of messing with [[NotSoHarmlessVillain Komachi]].** ''A Majcher Mistake'', the [[ShowWithinAShow Movie Within A Movie]] that shows the common patterns of a Gappy Stu.* MortonsFork: At the end of Episode 19, Brolli realizes his only options remaining are [[spoiler:survive the incident and take over Gensokyo, or be killed by Tenshi and let his allies suffer a crushing defeat]].* NecessarilyEvil: [[spoiler:Yukari]], who [[spoiler:gaps in amoral, selfish children in an attempt to get Gensokyo to stop blindly aiding outsiders]].* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: Lepus can hypnotize new mental abilities into Brolli. In Episode 8, he even names the trope.* [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice Job Breaking It, Brolli]]: Virtually all of Brolli's actions in the first half set up his downfall in the second half.** In Episode 15, it turns out Brolli could have possibly postponed the incident, left Gensokyo, and made somebody else die in his place if [[spoiler:he had just gone home and faced the consequences of running away]]. Unfortunately, [[spoiler:he's been gone for so long that he's been kicked out of school, wanted for truancy, and his parents are beyond angry, and one of Brolli's [[FatalFlaw fatal flaws]], like every other gappy, is trying to avoid the consequences of his actions]]. So, [[spoiler:he decides to go back to Gensokyo and risk the incident]]. [[ForegoneConclusion Of course]], [[TheHeroDies we know how that turns out]].** It gets worse in Episode 17, when [[spoiler:Komachi]] reveals [[spoiler:by unlocking the seal with the beasts in it in the first place, he has set himself down a path where every unconscious decision has led to his undoing]]. * NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: [[spoiler:Yuuka actually worked to protect the human children from Arturo, only for Vic to burn them all by accident in revenge, thinking she corrupted him first.]]* NotSoDifferent: ''Every'' Gappy has made the claim they will be different from the previous ones, and then go on to repeat the exact same mistakes. Brolli, despite his insistence that he will be different, obviously runs the same route...** [[spoiler:NotSoSimilar]]: [[spoiler:Brolli is the first Gappy to actually care more about Gensokyo than himself and feel remorse over his actions.]]* ObfuscatingStupidity: [[spoiler:Tenshi]]* ObviousBeta: The full streams of the incomplete [=DitR=], which have some interesting results.** The most glaring examples are when Spaztique has to voice over the stream to explain what should be going on in the scene. ** In the early versions of the full screenings, Brolli [[spoiler:did not redeem himself]] ''until'' the incident, making him unlikable until the very last minute, so audiences spend the first hours rooting against him and the last thirty minutes rooting for him. The full version [[spoiler:gives him his moment of redemption just prior to the midpoint]]. Since the "center of good" focused more on the Touhou cast than Brolli, most of the audience felt sorrier for them than Brolli only seeing the beginning and the climax alone. When Reel 1 was finished, people were divided between Brolli, the Touhou cast, or just saying both either deserved it or didn't. With Reel 1 finished and enough of Reel 2 done to balance the center of good on both Brolli ''and'' Gensokyo, the events reach full tragic limitations: the audience is sorry for ''both'' the Touhou cast ''and'' Brolli.** The early versions of Brolli's tragedy puts all of the fault on Brolli for taking rash decisions, but later versions tell us [[spoiler:Yukari gapped in Brolli because he'd make bad decisions under pressure]].** During the climatic battle, [[spoiler:Brolli's decision to take the Kappa Valley's metal comes from the incident itself]], but in the final version, [[spoiler:they've simply lost it over the course of the three months Brolli has been in Gensokyo]].** In the early version, based on the script for the original ''Diamond In The Rough'' series, Brolli doesn't find out it's Tenshi ''until'' the incident. In the final version, Brolli meets him much sooner. * OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: In Episode 8, we get a Miko vs. EX-Rumia battle that's cut off to see Brolli screwing around.** Between Episode 15 and 16, [[spoiler:Marisa single-handedly took down both Chen and Ran.]]* OhCrap: Brolli gets a massive reaction in Episode 13 when he accidentally [[spoiler:hands over command to Hydrus]].** The residents of the Scarlet Devil Mansion get this right before as well, before Brolli realizes it.* TheOnlyOne: Brolli believes he's the only one who can stop Tenshi's incident. Deconstructed for the remainder of the second half: the pressure is driving him into surmounting paranoia, and when it finally begins, [[spoiler:it turns out that he's far under-equipped and that [[WorldOfBadass everyone else]] is resolving it with him.]]* OriginalFlavour: According to a number of reviews, every character (except [[{{Deconstruction}} Nitori and Mokou's deliberate fanon version]]) is portrayed very closely to canon. The only thing that stands out are the horrible acts committed by the gappies, and we find out [[spoiler:that's exactly one of the reasons why Yukari gaps them over: in order to maintain Gensokyo's ecology as a peaceful wonderland, it must be exposed to truly heinous evil every once in a while. Once it has run its course, Gensokyo may return to being a peaceful land with non-lethal incidents over goofy stakes.]]** Near the beginning of the Reel 2, just before [[GutPunch the incident]], [[spoiler:Brolli briefly escapes Gensokyo]]. While [[spoiler:he's gone]], the story reverts to an absolutely vanilla Touhou story as Reimu and Marisa try to prevent the incident, engaging in normal spell card duels against unique bosses. [[spoiler:Then Yukari explains to Marisa this is the kind of nostalgia they were hoping to produce by exposing them to the gappies: in order to revert back to vanilla incidents, Gensokyo must tire of the DarkerAndEdgier plots.]]* OverlyNervousFlopSweat: When Brolli meets Reisen for the first time, to the point that when Brolli finally woos her, she gives him free anti-sweat medicine.* PassThePopcorn: When Marisa and Komachi are fighting, Chen and Ran are watching the whole thing through a T.V. With Chen even enjoying a bag of popcorn.* PrecisionFStrike: Brolli gets one in Episode 13 when he realizes [[spoiler:he just handed over command of the beasts to Hydrus, who plans to do some nasty things to the mansion to get Brolli to Makai.]]** Brolli gets one more in Episode 20, after [[spoiler:Yukari blackmails him into fighting Tenshi: his defeat will mean Hell, but his victory will mean plunging Gensokyo into its dark roots]]. Brolli's response? [[spoiler:"[[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu Fuck you, Yukari!]]"]]* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: Played for utter horror in ''A Majcher Mistake'': Arturo crosses the MoralEventHorizon several dozens of times, but thinks he is justified since [[ItsAllAboutMe ''he'' was trying to satisfy ''his'' needs]].** Also played with in Brolli's plot, and deconstructed just as brutally in the movie's second half.* ProtagonistJourneyToVillain: Brolli. Though it's debatable whether he is a full villain or just a jerkass. By extension, every single Gappy Stu before Brolli (and the ones to follow) that doesn't have a HeelRealization.** [[spoiler:Subverted with the gappies because Yukari only gaps in children she ''knows'' will eventually crack.]]** [[spoiler:Inverted with Brolli, who starts out as a prime candidate for turning into a power-hungry villain until he realizes the damage he could potentially do to Gensokyo. However, [[HeelFaceDoorSlam he realizes this just as both Gensokyo (and the viewers) are ready to watch him die.]]]]* ReadTheFreakingManual: Yukari's orders before Brolli can leave to explore Gensokyo. Naturally, he doesn't read it, and [[RunningGag everyone keeps reminding him]].** Nearing the second half, the story brings up certain canon facts [[AllThereInTheManual deep in Touhou lore]] that [[TakeThatAudience audiences may have forgotten or taken for granted]]. So far, audiences have been caught off-guard by the fact Tenshi is not a masochist, Yuuka [[spoiler:is no longer a total sadist]], and Flandre [[spoiler:fights by spell card rules]].* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: It's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech [[TheMovie MOVIE]].** In Episode 15, Yukari manages to get one against [[spoiler:Reimu and Marisa]], and [[TakeThatAudience the viewers]] by proxy.---> '''Yukari''': Although rare, there are many exceptions to "the bad Gappy Stu." Brolli ''could have'' handled those beasts if he had stood up to them: they '''*would*''' follow his every command since [[spoiler:they '''*are*''' him]]. The sad truth is that ''[[FictionIdentityPostulate all]]'' [[FictionIdentityPostulate gappies have the capacity for good]]. Even [[spoiler:Arturo]] could have been a hero if only he had listened. But more importantly, regardless of why I gap in these children... [[AccompliceByInaction Why haven't you planned to do anything about it?]] Each and every time I gap in a child, all you do is feed him tea, explain spell card rules, and then cheer him on [[RealitySubtext until]] [[DeadFic he dies]]. Meanwhile, I have a full schedule of children ''begging'' for an escape, and you two have done '''*nothing*''' to stop me... Oh... That's right... '''You''' '''''can't''''' '''do anything'''. Last time, it took [[spoiler: you two and that maid]] to fight me [[WorfHadTheFlu while I was sleep deprived]]. Even if you could beat me, you've spent too much time with the gappies to do so!** Episode 18 has Reimu delivering one to Brolli when believes [[TheMainCharactersDoEverything he is the only one who can resolve the incident]]. * ReferenceOverdosed* RefusalOfTheCall: Implied with Vic.* RetiredBadass: Reimu, in a {{Deconstruction}} of DemotedToExtra: so many [[MartyStu Marty Stus]] have been trying to replace her that Reimu is nothing more than "a babysitter for bratty foreigners."** [[spoiler:Subverted when the incident begins.]]* RetiredMonster: Episode 14 gives us [[spoiler:Shinki]], who [[spoiler:just wants to rebuild Makai after the events of Mystic Square.]]* TheReveal: Several over the course of the series...** [[WhamEpisode Episode 12]] has several: [[spoiler:Yukari sugar-coated just how bad the gappies can get, it was really Vic who was the last gappy before Brolli, Yuuka wasn't a bad person (and in fact actually wanted to help stop Arturo), the incident disgusted Tenshi so much she wanted to engineer a tragedy to stop this from happening,]] and most importantly, [[spoiler:Tenshi reveals he knew Brolli was Colonel Diamondback all along, only waiting until the right moment until the people of Gensokyo had his weaknesses to begin the incident]].** Episode 13 has more: [[spoiler:the Diamondback beasts are not only sins incarnate, but ''Brolli's'' sins incarnate since he was actually a Colonel Diamondback from Gensokyo in at least eight timelines. He was moved to the other side of the planet to keep his self-awareness, but by using them at all, he's eroding it. We also learn Flandre is not as dangerous as everyone said she was.]]** In Episode 16, [[spoiler:Yukari reveals the reason why she's gapping in these children: to get Gensokyo to stop submitting to outsiders so easily, and she will continue to do so until Gensokyo finally stands up for itself.]] And the scary part? [[spoiler:So far, ''it's working'', and Yukari is betting Marisa will try to kill Brolli next...]]** In Episode 17, [[spoiler:Komachi]] tells Brolli Yukari's criteria for gapping children: [[spoiler:their behaviors must be in a perfect combination that [[YouCantFightFate leads them to their own destruction]], and they must be on their [[FinalDeath final reincarnation before Hell]], meaning no gappy will ever reincarnate to stop Yukari.]]** In Episodes 18 and 19, [[spoiler:Yukari mentions she wants to protect Brolli. Brolli then realizes that Yukari's plan isn't for everyone to gang up on Brolli, because Tenshi will do that for her and come out a hero if she wins: her plan is to keep Brolli alive long enough for everyone to start fighting ''eachother'']].** In Episode 20, in addition to the numerous FaceHeelTurn moments, we get one last reveal by Yukari: [[spoiler:she's not merely just gapping in dangerous outsiders to save the balance by showing Gensokyo how dangerous they can become, but to ''destroy'' it through letting them become too powerful to be stopped [[ForeverWar for centuries]]. The reason she's keeping Brolli alive is so he can become Gensokyo's new BigBad, plunging Gensokyo into its dark, bloody roots and prolonging human-youkai battles, and with it, [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans Gensokyo's lifespan.]]]]* RunningGag: Multiple...** Nobody will let up on Brolli for [[ReadTheFreakingManual not reading the guide]].** Chen watching the action from a hole in a tree.** "He's not a Colonel. He was gapped here by Yukari!"** Yukari is constantly [[BigEater stealing people's food]]; later, [[spoiler:Miko]] [[LampshadeHanging hangs a lampshade on this]] by saying stealing food is the most harm she can do, despite being a boundless gap youkai. [[spoiler:[[FridgeHorror It turns out]] to [[FunnyAneurysmMoment not be far from the truth]] once the whole movie is seen.]]* SadisticChoice: Episode 19 has two...** Momoi reveals [[spoiler:the attack on Youkai Mountain was a distraction for all of the other attacks of Gensokyo]], meaning their options are to split up and save everyone, risking their lives, or kill Brolli to end the incident. At first, it doesn't seem so sadistic since [[spoiler:most of Gensokyo is doing a good job at defending itself]], until they remember [[spoiler:Brolli [[NiceJobBreakingItHero plundered the Kappa Valley]] of its defenses for his swords and money]]. Luckily, [[spoiler:Reimu reminds them that killing Brolli will only destroy the peaceful way of life Gensokyo was built upon]].** At the end of the episode, when Brolli deduces Yukari's real plan to [[spoiler:keep him alive so everyone fights eachother over Brolli until Brolli's allies lose]], he realizes the only options are [[spoiler:die and go to Hell while Brolli's enemies are punished, or live and become Gensokyo's BigBad]]. * SceneryGorn: The [[spoiler:destroyed Scarlet Devil Mansion in episode 13]].** Makai, mixed with SceneryPorn.** In Episode 18, [[spoiler:Youkai Mountain]].** In Episode 19, [[spoiler:ALL of Gensokyo, including the Netherworld, Hell, The House of Eternity, The Scarlet Devil Mansion, the Human Village]], and especially [[spoiler:the Kappa Valley]]. ** In Episode 20, [[spoiler:Lake Suwa]] and [[spoiler:Brolli's rotting mind with the beasts trapped inside]].* SceneryPorn: The Kappa Valley, made entirely using stock props from create.swf.** The human village also gets many good reviews.** Makai, mixed with SceneryGorn.* TheScream: Multiple uses...** Episode 11 has a comic usage when Aya walks in on [[spoiler:Brolli and Reisen having sex]].** In Episode 19, there's a dark usage when Brolli realizes his only options left are [[spoiler:watch his allies face a crushing defeat or take over Gensokyo if he survives]] and [[spoiler:literally gets the Kappa Valley's blood on his hands when wiping it off his pants]]. Made worse by the fact [[spoiler:it's not in text: it's ''[[JumpScare voiced]]'']].* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Momiji disobeys Tenma's orders to protect the Tengu Village in order to save Brolli and Aya. [[spoiler:She is exiled at the end for doing so.]]* SelfInsertFic: A [[DeconstructorFleet tragic savaging]] of such fics, particularly ones where the protagonist treats Gensokyo like his personal playground.** Also a TakeThat of [[SelfInsertFic Self Insert Fics]], wherein the lead character is portrayed as shallow, selfish, arrogant, and lazy, using Gensokyo as a petty escape from the real world.* SelfFulfillingProphecy: Yukari constantly tells Jack to look for a life in the real world instead of hoping for a quick fix like Gensokyo, but this only drives him into deeper frustration with his life to want to go to Gensokyo.* SerialEscalation: The entire climax is essentially a steady string of plot twists and things going FromBadToWorse.** The production itself is an example, which the battles increasingly getting larger with each production stream. The first half of the battle of Episode 18 features frames from when Spaztique started, while the latter half was made a year later. * ShirtlessScene: Brolli gets one when being treated by Reisen.* ShootTheShaggyDog: The opening ''tells the viewers'' [[TheHeroDies Brolli dies in three months from entering Gensokyo]]; part of the dark tone of the film is knowing that all of Brolli's combined actions are just slowly bringing him closer and closer to destruction, even the ones that ''seem'' like they'll work in the long run. * ShoutOut: [[ReferenceOverdosed Loads and Loads of Shout Outs]]. The whole thing is one giant ArcWelding and {{Deconstruction}} of [=ColonelDiamondback=]'s work, with some references to the FanFic/{{Miniverse}}, plus countless references to minor details about the VideoGame/{{Touhou}} characters. Has [[ShoutOut/DiamondInTheRough its own page]].* ShroudedInMyth: [[spoiler:Flandre's reputation as a homicidal maniac turns out to be untrue. She's just a normal resident of Gensokyo with a maniacal fighting style (which happens to abide by spell card rules).]]* SlasherSmile: Yukari can pull this off, a notable example being her first appearance, which can nearly be considered a JumpScare.* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Begins [[AWorldHalfFull mildly idealistically]]: although dangerous, Gensokyo is still a world full of brave heroes will to fight for its safety. Then, the second half takes a long, steady nosedive down the cynical end: [[spoiler:the heroes take increasingly desperate and cruel acts to save Gensokyo that lead to pointlessly tragic outcomes, leading to the near-end of Gensokyo]]. [[spoiler:It ends up somewhere in the middle when Brolli's actions save Gensokyo, even though it doesn't save the people he wanted to save.]]* SocialDarwinist: Yukari.--> '''Yukari''': I believe if you're dumb enough to make a decision that will get you killed, you deserve it.* SpannerInTheWorks: In Episode 20, [[spoiler:Tenshi and Yukari were using Brolli to upset the balance: Yukari wanted to use Brolli to become Gensokyo's new BigBad to keep it out of stagnation, while Tenshi wanted to end the increasingly-dangerous Gappy Era and punish all those who supported Gappies. Brolli engineers a double knockout, which ends up inverting this trope as ''both'' of their plans work: Gappies are now harmless ''and'' everyone who participated in the Diamondback Incident suffered the consequences.]]* SpiritualAntithesis: ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8475931/1/Mind-the-gap Mind The Gap]]'' by [=ChibiChen=], a deliberate {{Reconstruction}} of everything ''Diamond In The Rough'' took apart. Where ''Diamond In The Rough'' [[spoiler:shows how selfish many gappies can be, how it's not possible to save ''all'' of Gensokyo by oneself, and the pursuit of power will ultimately destroy you]], ''Mind The Gap'' says, "Okay, but [[spoiler:good people still exist, you can still ''help'' everyone resolve incidents, and if you give a good person the right tools, they can do a world of good]]."* SpiritualSuccessor: ''FanFic/TheCrossroad'' is a more focused {{Deconstruction}} on the HeroicWannabe trope as opposed to all SelfInsertFic tropes. Unlike Diamond In The Rough, it makes great use of [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover several Walfas OCs]] and shows that not all [=OCs=]/[[AuthorAvatar Author Avatars]] are [[{{Reconstruction}} a bad thing]]. It also features [[ShoutOut Shout Outs]] galore to Diamond In The Rough.* StealthPun: In Episode 15, Marisa, who (punchline in spoiler) [[spoiler:hasn't said "ze" once in the entire story]], gets this...--> '''Marisa''': At least this beats watchin' gappies, eh?* StrangerInAFamiliarLand: Implied with Vic.* StuffBlowingUp: The latter half is full of it, kicking off with the battle between the Diamondback Beasts and [[spoiler:Flandre]], leading to [[spoiler:the destruction of the Scarlet Devil Mansion]].** In Episode 18, we get the battle of [[spoiler:Youkai Mountain]], where the entire [[spoiler:Tengu Village]] is being [[SceneryGorn ripped to shreds]].** In Episode 19, we see [[spoiler:ALL of Gensokyo locked in battle]], but we particularly see [[spoiler:the Kappa Valley]] getting destroyed.* StylisticSuck: ''[[ShowWithinAShow A Majcher Mistake]]'' is done with much more limited character art and animation than the rest of the movie.* [[spoiler:SomeoneToRememberHimBy]]: [[spoiler:Cruelly subverted.]]* SupportingHarem: When you think about it, Brolli ''does'' have a harem, especially when you consider the subtext that [[spoiler:these girls might actually be attracted to Brolli]].** FirstGirlWins and YamatoNadeshiko: Reisen** {{Bokukko}} and ManicPixieDreamGirl: Marisa** {{Meido}} and EmotionlessGirl: Sakuya** {{Tsundere}}: Reimu** {{Ojou}} and GenkiGirl: Remilia** [[invoked]] {{Moe}} GadgeteerGenius: Nitori** {{Yandere}}: Tenshi** HaremNanny: Eirin and Yukari.* SurvivorGuilt: [[spoiler:Brolli, for realizing the horrible things he did to Gensokyo. Thanks to this self-revelation, he is given a second chance.]]** [[spoiler: Aya, after Brolli's death.]]* TakeAThirdOption: [[spoiler:Shinki]] reveals the only two end options for Brolli are to save himself at the expense of everyone else (he survives the incident, but takes over Gensokyo) or save everyone else at the expense of himself (he dies, but Gensokyo will be safe). Brolli desperately wants an option where everyone can live, but [[spoiler:Shinki]] lets him know it will be impossible. ** [[spoiler:In the final battle, if Brolli loses, Tenshi and the enemies of Brolli will reign over everyone who blindly supported Brolli and the previous outsiders. If Brolli wins, he will regain control of his beasts and it will launch Gensokyo into perpetual war to defeat him. In the end, Brolli causes a double-knockout so that neither side wins: everyone suffers the after-effects equally.]]* TakeThatAudience: The whole movie is a not-so-subtle TakeThat at bad fanfic writers, and the ending is [[spoiler:a TakeThat at people who think the only solution is [[RootingForTheEmpire killing their characters brutally]]]].** This exchange, after Brolli has been to the House of Eternity, the Scarlet Devil Mansion, Marisa's House, and now Alice's House...---> '''Brolli''': [[RandomEventsPlot How many more place are you going to keep dragging me]]?! I feel like we're going to go all over Gensokyo [[FetchQuest before I even unlock my powers]]!---> '''Marisa''': Well, [[RealitySubtext perhaps if you had started your journey knowing what you were looking for, things would have gone a lot more quickly]].[[note]]This is a poke at fanfic writers who never plan their plots and decide to have their character go on a grand tour of Gensokyo before "finding the plot".[[/note]]** From the same part, Ran and Chen are watching Brolli from their room, and Ran questions how Chen could be so interested in a boy who [[UselessProtagonist has done virtually nothing]] and [[TooDumbToLive voided Yukari's orders to go into Gensokyo unarmed]]. [[spoiler:Chen reveals she's more interested in the rest of the cast.]]** In Episode 8, Chen continues complaining about missing real action for Brolli's [[SelfInsertFic stupid plot]]. ** Episode 12 goes on an giant attack, poking at everyone's view of Yuuka, fanon Tenshi, the series' portrayal of Tenshi, and a subtle TakeThat at the people who are paranoid of Brolli, even though he's done nothing big with his powers other than petty things.---> '''Brolli''': You mean [[spoiler:Yuuka wasn't a bad person? This was all Arturo's doing?]]---> '''Tenshi''': [[spoiler:Yuuka may be teasing, and she was once openly hostile, but she's very docile these days.]]---> '''Brolli''': But that means Yukari lied to me about [[spoiler:Yuuka]].---> '''Tenshi''': Yukari lies about everything. In fact, *NEVER* believe a story until you know the canon facts. Everyone thinks *I* am a masochist because I started an incident just for the fun of it, so I could fight *everyone* in Gensokyo, but [[ArmedWithCanon would a masochist *really* defend herself against the entirety of Gensokyo and then *win*?]]** The intermission sequence, which begins with some strange art and harmless movie trivia, but then [[spoiler:the movie trivia calls out ''both'' the people who write Gappy fics ''and'' the people waiting to watch Brolli die]]. It ends with [[spoiler:Yukari herself asking the audience if think they could do better than Brolli in the given circumstance]].** In Episode 18, when Reimu yells, "Don't you get it?! Cheering this idiot on is what landed us in this situation in the first place!," she's looking directly at the camera. * [[ThisLoserIsYou These Losers Are You]]: The Gappy Stus. * ThisMeansWar: In Episode 15, [[spoiler:after Yukari taunts Reimu and Marisa for not only doing nothing about the gappy problem, but aiding the very gappies they're trying to stop, they decide enough is enough; as a result, Reimu comes out of retirement to stop the incident while Marisa runs off to the Yakumo household to take down Yukari and end the gappies once and for all.]]* ThrowTheDogABone: [[spoiler:After the hellish DownerEnding, Brolli is allowed another chance for [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realizing what he's done]].]]* [[spoiler:ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks]]: [[spoiler:Subverted because Brolli's swords ''become'' danmaku.]]* ToThePain: In Episode 17, [[spoiler:Komachi]] describes what will happen if he does not back down from the incident in graphic detail...--> [[spoiler:'''Komachi''']]: It's predictable, really, just like that ice fairy: so stubborn that her mindlessness gets her killed, only this won't be amusing to watch. Instead, when you get caught in this incident, relying solely on the things you own, you will be helpless, defenseless, watching the world crumble around you. Everyone you know and love will either die or betray you to save Gensokyo, or commit atrocity after atrocity to save you. The villages will burn, the bodies will pile high... And it will be '''your fault'''.* {{Tragedy}}: What this work essentially is.* TranslationConvention: In Episode 15, when Brolli [[spoiler:is stranded in Japan]], [[spoiler:all of the Japanese signs are translated , leaving one untranslated sign [[IntentionalEngrishForFunny with poor Engrish]]]].* TranslatorMicrobes: Implied. Everyone in this Japanese wonderland seems to speak English, and Reimu mentions (albeit [[PaintingTheMedium behind one of Brolli's thought bubbles]]) that Yukari messes with the heads of the children she gaps in to make the world more understandable. ** In Episode 15, when Brolli [[spoiler:actually leaves Gensokyo, Yukari's effects wear off, and Reimu speaks untranslated Japanese]].* TrappedInAnotherWorld: Deconstructed. Brolli grows more paranoid, homesick, and morally grey as he tries to gain more power in Gensokyo.* TwoActStructure: The first half is a DeconstructiveParody of the typical Touhou SelfInsertFic. The second half is a CerebusRetcon of everything that preceded it.* UnexpectedCharacter: ** In Episode 14, [[spoiler:Shinki and Yumeko.]]** In Episode 18, [[spoiler:Genji]].** In Episode 19, [[spoiler:Konngara]], [[spoiler:Rinnosuke]][[note]]with a ''shotgun''[[/note]], and [[spoiler:Sekibanki]].* TheUnfettered: The Gappies are this incarnate, [[{{Deconstruction}} showing how desperate, morally flawed, and emotionally broken these people need to be to want this much power]].** Marisa, according to many preview audiences, is basically a Gappy who escaped punishment: she can gain power and get away with it... [[spoiler:But this is a subversion: she's actually TheFettered who loves to look like TheUnfettered, but still wants to protect the balance of Gensokyo. Therefore, she never gains more power than she needs.]]* UngratefulBastard: Brolli after gaining his powers.--> '''Alice''' ''*after saving Brolli and getting owned by Ran*'': That jerk didn't even thank us.* UnreliableExpositor: A running theme throughout the whole movie.** Overall, Spaztique in regards to canon vs. fanon Gensokyo, mainly to shake up fanfic writers in regards to doing the research to actually know what's right.** The [[spoiler:Arturo]] story changes each time Brolli hears it from [[spoiler:Yukari, Tenshi, Komachi, and finally Keine]].** Reimu and Tenshi both say they have never lost a battle before, even though the both have fought. Finally, Komachi hangs a lampshade on this by Episode 17.--> '''Brolli''' This is the third time I heard about [[spoiler:Arturo]], and *none* of these stories even match up!--> '''Komachi''': One of your sins is that you are too gullible. Has it occured to you that sometimes people can be wrong or lying? Do you *really* think Reimu and Tenshi are unbeatable? I've beaten them before. There's a reason Spell Card Rules exist.* {{Ustream}}: Where the movie is broadcasted and where production is streamed.* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Tenshi's plan is to engineer an incident of such tragic consequences for those involved, they will never blindly aid an outsider ever again, thus fixing Gensokyo's balance permanently. [[spoiler:This is later revealed to be Yukari's plan all along and why she was gapping in outsiders: to get the Gensokyo locals to stand up to bratty outsiders before it could result in an uncontrolled disaster.]]** In Episode 20, [[spoiler: Yukari's previously mentioned uncontrolled disaster is just what she wanted to cause to begin a prolonged human-youkai battle, prolonging Gensokyo's lifespan.]]* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: ''A Majcher Mistake'' portrays Arturo as an idiot who got corrupted by Yuuka's offer to sleep with her, resulting in widespread destruction, the youkai hunters killing Arturo, and Yuuka getting away scot-free. Then, [[spoiler:Tenshi]] reveals the truth: [[spoiler:Arturo was always corrupt, Yuuka was bluffing Arturo and couldn't stop him, the youkai hunters either did not want to stop him or could not stop him, another Gappy had to be brought in to kill him, and Yuuka recieves all of the punishment for the sins of the two gappies.]] It disgusts [[spoiler:Tenshi]] so much that [[spoiler:she plans an incident to finally get back at those blindly supporting gappies and reward those who were too cowardly to once face him.]]* VomitIndiscretionShot: Brolli vomits after flying all over Gensokyo with Marisa and drinking Sakuya's "soda," which is essentially lemon tea with seltzer water.* WarFic: How the story ends if Episode 18 is apparent enough.* WarIsHell: Episode 18 and beyond.* WeHaveBecomeComplacent: [[spoiler:Yukari's motivation for trying to destroy the balance.]]* WeUsedToBeFriends: [[spoiler:Tenshi]] and Brolli, as detailed in Episode 10.* WebcomicTime: In-universe a few days have passed between some episode, three months in the entire series, while the first episode was published in August 2012.* WhamEpisode: Quite a few, reaching [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Madoka]] levels nearing the end.** Episode 2, making it clear just how dangerous [[DeathWorld Gensokyo]] really is.** Episode 6. [[spoiler:Brolli briefly goes mad with power, only for Yukari to reveal the last gappy, his former classmate, did the same and ended up obliterating the human village's children. Also, the beasts Brolli is now in control of go against Yukari's warning.]]** '''Episode 12''', marking the end of Reel 1: [[spoiler:Brolli reveals he regretted coming to Gensokyo to Nitori, but still thanks her and everyone for supporting him thus far. Then, Tenshi reveals that she's not obsessed with the Colonel because she thinks he's evil, but because she's knows he's good and wants to engineer his death to get back at everyone else for their misunderstanding of Gappies. It is also revealed [[BroadStrokes Yukari lied about the Arturo and Yuuka story]], and it was really [[ChekhovsGunman Vic]] who killed Arturo, but simultaneously got uneeded revenge of Yuuka. The resulting disaster made Tenshi so sick that she vows to unleash this incident upon Gensokyo, just as long as she can get her hands on the Colonel's weaknesses. Then, Momoi reveals that Aya's newspaper on Colonel Diamondback was released, giving Tenshi all she needs to begin the tragedy.]]** '''Episode 13''' continues the wham: [[spoiler:Brolli is not the first Colonel Diamondback, and the beasts are actually the collective sins of his past lives. When the Scarlet Devil Mansion crew tries to relinquish Brolli of his beasts, the beasts want none of it. They decide to call in Flandre to fight them, who nearly defeats them, but then Hydrus orders the entire Scarlet Devil Mansion destroyed.]]* WhamLine: Progressively gets more and more as it goes on.** From Episode 12...---> '''Tenshi''': You do know [[spoiler:we've been talking to Colonel Diamondback this whole time]], right?** From Episode 16...---> '''Sanae''': ''*picks up [[spoiler:a peach]] from under the kotatsu*'' Kanako? Suwako? When did we ever get [[spoiler:peaches]]?** Episode 18 is chock full of them...---> '''Brolli''': Professor Keine, I'm sorry about what happened with Arturo.---> '''Keine''': [[spoiler:Who's Arturo?]]*** And later...---> '''Reimu''': [[spoiler:The mist disabled your ability to transform!]]*** Even later...---> '''Brolli''': [[spoiler:Everyone has a workaround for their powers but me!]]*** And finally...---> '''Brolli''': Stop treating me like a hero! Don't you get [[spoiler:I've been using you this whole time]]?! [[spoiler:I only wanted to get close to you for the medical supplies so I could get stronger. I shouldn't have gotten involved with-]]---> '''Reisen''': It's okay, Brolli... [[spoiler:I knew you did...]]** From Episode 19...---> '''Brolli''': [[spoiler:THE KAPPA VALLEY IS DEFENSELESS!!!]]* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The Arturo/Yuuka/Keine story is never cleared up. According to WordOfGod, it's not supposed to be: the actions of the previous gappies don't matter when you're living your own nightmare.** We never see [[spoiler:Flandre getting dug out of the Scarlet Devil Mansion]], but it is implied [[spoiler:she gets out after Gensokyo finally recovers]].* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: In Episode 14, [[spoiler:Shinki]] bestows upon Brolli the power to [[spoiler:throw swords like her maid Yumeko]], and this is Brolli's response, given how he'd never just throw away his swords, even if his life depended on it...** [[spoiler:HeartIsAnAwesomePower: It saves Brolli and Reisen's life in Episode 18.]]* WhatTheHellHero: After the Diamondback beasts [[spoiler:blow up the Scarlet Devil Mansion to help Brolli save Gensokyo]], everyone at [[spoiler:the Mansion]] calls them out, including [[spoiler:'''''Brolli himself''''']].* WipeThatSmileOffYourFace: In Episode 10, Yukari gaps away [[spoiler:Rumia]]'s mouth when she's about to reveal something about Arturo.* WishFulfillment: Again, Deconstructed: a mix of BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor and WantingIsBetterThanHaving* TheWorfEffect: Played with regarding Flandre: audiences were expecting [[spoiler:[[AdaptationalVillainy Fanon Flandre]] to wipe the walls with the Diamondback beasts using her ability to destroy anything by squeezing her hand]]. There's just one major problem: [[spoiler:they were fighting ''Canon'' Flandre, who, despite being [[StuffBlowingUp messy in her fighting style]], actively plays by Spell Card Rules and [[HonorBeforeReason refuses to fight unfairly]] since Touhou vampires are polite by nature. Only when the beasts start destroying the mansion does she start to realize this is a bad idea, but by then, Lepus hypnotizes her and the rest of the beasts bury her under the mansion.]] Ironically, despite being canon, some fans have thought this was hypocritical to have [[spoiler:Flandre play by the rules and then lose to the far more ruthless beasts]] after an episode where Tenshi points out not to believe anything [[ArmedWithCanon until learning the canon facts]].* AWorldHalfFull: Everything up until the incident treats Gensokyo this way.** [[spoiler:The ending: despite the horrors of the Diamondback incident, Gensokyo will recover and move on.]]* WorldOfBadass: Episode 18 onward drives home the fact Gensokyo is already full of powerful heroines. * YouCantFightFate: TheReveal when Brolli talks to Komachi tells this about gappies. [[spoiler:Yukari only picks kids who simply cannot escape their fate of getting gapped, gain undeserved powers and then die and get eaten. Even the ones trying to avoid their fates have flaws that lead them into a huge self-fullfiling prophecy. ''None'' of them never realize how much of horrible human beings they are, and ''every single gappy'' is dropped into hell: no exceptions. Even the ones that try to fight fate, like Vic, end up [[BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu breaking themselves horrifically]]. Not even Brolli is immune: the more he tried to fight his fate, the deeper he dug himself and didn't realize until it was too late. There is no hope for gappies.]]* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: In Episode 15, [[spoiler:Marisa helps remind Reimu she is still irreplaceable as an incident resolver, youkai hunter, and her friend]]. As a result, [[spoiler:Reimu decides [[HesBack she'll pitch in to get Brolli out of Gensokyo and then resolve the incident]]]].* YouBastard: The intermission of the full film calls the audience out on waiting for Brolli's death.** Yukari's second-to-last line to Brolli...---> '''Yukari''': Atta boy, Brolli. Now, put up a good fight. After all... ---> ''Yukari [[BreakingTheFourthWall looks at the screen]].''---> '''Yukari''': ... You don't want to disappoint the audience, do you?* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Implied in the first half: After Brolli has stayed a whole month in Gensokyo, Reimu offers Brolli the chance to go back after staying a month. Brolli knows this isn't an option. When Reisen asks if he's glad he left the outside world, he briefly [[GrassIsGreener shows a look of disappointment]].** In the long run, [[TheHeroDies Brolli never returns home]]...** In Episode 15, it's made explicit when [[spoiler:Brolli not only finds himself stranded in Japan upon exiting the Hakurei Border, but if he does go home, he will have nothing to return to: he's been expelled from school, wanted for truancy, his cat is dead, and his parents have essentially disowned him for running away to Japan]]. In a possible alternative ending, [[spoiler:Brolli could return home, but his teenage years and young adult life would be ruined, plus he'd have to live with the fact he (thinks he) doomed a fantasy world.]]** Even more explicit in Episode 16: [[spoiler:the girl he's using for medicine is pregnant with his child, and Gensokyo will be doomed unless he stops Tenshi's incident.]] Worse, [[spoiler:Yukari has this whole thing planned out to get the people of Gensokyo to stand up to outsiders, using Brolli as the last straw.]]* [[spoiler:YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness]]: In Episode 20, [[spoiler:Yukari lets Brolli know that whether he lives or dies, he's served his purpose by upsetting Gensokyo's balance; likely for the next century]].* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: In Episode 20, [[spoiler: Nitori praises Aya for being partially responsible for Brolli's death and offers her shelter after Tenma exiles her. Aya is angered by the offer.]]